Canberra Chapter News

Those members who have a Senior Card or Australian Pension card are eligible for free entry to our National Parks. As we at RPM do intend to visit some National Parks this year it would be a good idea to get a National Park card.

The annual Marques in the Park day was a great day to signal the end of winter and the start of the warmer spring and summer. And we had a terrific site to show off our cars, sitting on the side of a slight hill in the shade, looking down on the poor people with their GT Falcons, Porsches and Ferraris.

The Winter 2018 edition of Club Torque is a bit late but is now appearing in your letterbox. If you did not receive the printed magazine and you want one, then there is a probably a good reason why you didn't receive it. Read on ...

The results and some stats on the President's Picnic 2018 are now available. For all members and visitors attending, the Club wishes to express its appreciation for their participation and support for the biggest annual event on our Club's calendar.

Due to recent changes by the provider of our membership system, passwords in our membership database are now encrypted and therefore not visible to administrators. Read on for the latest advice on how to reset your password.

Join the 123 who have registered to chase the Brass Monkey for charity on Sunday. If you have nothing to do that is better than a run into the dawn in an open MX-5 surrounded by other roadsters for breakfast with likeminded enthusiasts on Sunday then register now.

Saturday 9 June saw 17 MX5s loaded with 27 people leave the ACT heading for the Binalong Motor Museum. While the outside temperature was relatively mild, there had been overnight rain which persisted into the morning (albeit lightly), meaning roofs up unfortunately.

The Pink Ladies of MX-5 are a team of five MX-5 Club ladies who will compete in the 6 Hour Regularity Relay at Eastern Creek on the Easter weekend. We are putting our driving and strategy skills to the test to raise funds for the Cancer Council. Let's KISS CANCER GOODBYE! Please donate.

If there is a better way to celebrate Australia Day than fun & games with your MX-5 mates, then we don't know what it is. The inaugural MX-5 Packing Challenge would prove that it is possible for a couple to to take everything needed for a camping weekend. And when it inevitably rains, you can pack it all away in as little as 38 seconds.

NatMeet XIII is now less than four months away and there have been some minor revisions. Please read on for the latest news release. There are still opportunities to attend NatMeet XIII in the Barossa Valley SA in April 2018.

Motorsport has always been an important key to the success of the MX-5 Club of NSW, with our club members competing since the beginning in 1990. Our first club track day that we organised entirely on our own was at Wakefield Park on 20th January 1997. It is now 20 years since that major step for our club and on the weekend of 25/26 November 2017, we celebrated in some considerable style.

Barry was not expecting a great turn-out for this run because it was only a Saturday afternoon trip, but fifteen cars turned up for a great run to admire a couple of dams and to have a leisurely lunch at the Corin Forest Resort.

Talk to anyone about driving an MX-5 and it won’t be long before you hear the words "wind in my hair". Yet, long, tussled tresses can be a distraction on the road. Here’s how a little bit of careful can give you a whole lot of carefree when driving your convertible.

The 2017 President's Picnic was a huge success judging from the 183 people attending, the 131 MX-5s on show, and the complimentary comments on the free catering provided by the Club. Read on for all the results.

Keiran is a stay-at-home mum of two toddlers and treated herself to some "mummy me time" at the Ringwood Park hillclimb. Read on for her story. Entries for the final hillclimb round of 2017 are now open!

The rules for judging entrants in Concours d’Elegance have been changed for 2017 as a trial of the Open Concours Rules to allow those members with MX-5s that were previously judged down on originality able to compete on a more even playing field for Concours honours.

The Canberra Chapter Annual Chapter Meeting will be held on Wednesday 16 August at the Woden Southern Cross Club in the Rainbow Room at 7:30 PM following dinner in the Golden Grille Bistro at 6:00pm. Come along and enjoy dinner and a brief meeting.

On a wild, wet and woolly day, Canberra Chapter Convenor, Norm Barker, ably assisted by Roz, organised and led the Convenor’s Mystery Run and BBQ, on Sunday, 9 April. Did everyone get to the BBQ destination? Were the sausages washed away? And who received a surprise award?

The webpage for the Annual Charity Lunch for CareFlight has opened! This year's event is being held in Wollombi and hosted by the Hunter Chapter.
Come and join us for a fun filled day and raise funds for a worthy cause!

Can you imagine declining Mazda-paid return flights to Melbourne from Sydney to attend MX-5 Fan Fest? It was an easy decision for Philip when the alternative was the ultimate road trip from Sydney to Melbourne 1,600km and 23 hour drive time. This is a bucket list item ticked.

The 35th annual Shannons Wheels Day was held in the Treasury Car Park on Sunday 13 March 2017, on a sunny and warm Autumn day with our club providing 13 cars, covering all 4 models of our chosen marque.

On 20 January 1997, the MX-5 Club of NSW held it's first track day at Wakefield Park. We will be celebrating the 20th Anniversary of our Club Motorsport on the weekend of the 19-20 August in Goulburn and at the Wakefield Park race track. Save the date!

The Canberra Chapter 2017 Events Calendar is available for download and posting on your fridge. Please remember, it is current at 2 January 2017, so don't rely on it unless you have checked Norm's Monthly Missive and/or the website!

Would you like to know who won the trophies for Member of the Year and New Member of the Year, and the Russell Battisson Memorial Trophy for the Canberra Chapter Motorsport Member of Year, at the 2016 Annual Canberra Chapter Presentation and Christmas Lunch? Or who won the equally coveted lucky door prizes? Read on for a full report ...

When our young drivers appear in the media, it is too often the result of tragedy. The headlines are full of hooning, drink driving, texting P-platers who are a danger to themselves and others. With no good news stories to provide some balance, it is a far too easy to form a negative impression of all young drivers. Club Torque caught up with two of our young MX-5 drivers to discuss the issues and challenges they face. In doing so, we found the good news story. They are capable, thoughtful and dedicated to developing their skills. Like the majority of young drivers, they are just trying to get from A to B. They are successfully undertaking a complex task in an ever changing environment. They are exactly like you and me. Only younger.

The AGM of the MX-5 Club of NSW was held on Friday 21 October 2016 at Ryde-Eastwood Leagues Club. Read on for all the reports, new Committee members, and awards recipients. There was a BIG SURPRISE in store with the awarding a two Life Memberships!

Mazda Australia are hosting an MX-5 Fan Fest on 21 January 2017 at Sandown Raceway in Victoria. The one-millionth MX-5 is doing a tour of the world and it will be in Melbourne in January for this event. You will have the chance to sign the car and be part of history! Register your Expression of Interest now!

We are pleased to announce that Central Coast Mazda has joined us as a new Major Sponsor of the MX-5 Club of NSW. The sponsorship funds received from Central Coast Mazda will be put towards the production for our Club Torque magazine.

Another successful President's Picnic was held at Ebenezer Church on Saturday 24th September 2016. About 120 MX-5s lined up on the grass and they all looked stunning on a warm spring day with clear blue skies overhead. We fed lunch to over 200 people and the opportunity was taken to present CareFlight with over $4000 in donations. What a day!

Mazda Australia are hosting an MX-5 Fan Fest on 21 January 2017 at Sandown Raceway in Victoria. The one-millionth MX-5 is doing a tour of the world and it will be in Melbourne in January for this event. You will have the chance to sign the car and be part of history!

NatMeet in WA is not a viable option, but why not join a less formal "NotMeet"? The MX-5 Club of WA has developed a brochure that outlines five modules that take you through most of the south west of the WA. The West is waiting for you!

On awakening on the morning of our Taralga Run and hearing steady rain on our roof and hearing all the dire warnings from the weather bureau, I was wondering if our group should be travelling in amphibious army DUKWs rather than our trusty little MX-5s.

Sixteen MX-5s gathered at the Hall rest area on the northern border of the ACT. The day was sunny but cold, having snowed during the week. After the drivers’ briefing, the convoy set off on the Barton Highway towards Yass and then to Boorowa for coffee.

66 participants gathered at the lovely setting of the Stone Room at Grazing at Gundaroo to mark the Chapter’s milestone, including our official guests – among them Louis Serret, our Chapter’s founding convenor – as well as members of Illawarra, Sydney and RPM Chapters, and of course, Canberra Chapter.

Notwithstanding a forecast for a cold morning with and showers to follow, 12 Canberra cars plus one from Bathurst (RPM) departed Queanbeyan in cool but reasonable weather for Braidwood and a coffee fix.

We have a handful of regalia stock left from our Club 25th Anniversary Celebration - only 10 polos (various sizes) and 8 caps. Now is your chance to pick up some Club 25th Anniversary regalia with immediate delivery.

28 starters for the Mystery Run and BBQ met at 9.30 a.m. at Blamey Square, Russell, on a cloudy morning with rain a distinct possibility – and for the first time in a long while, the MX-5s had to share the parking with the Corvette Club which had also decided to use the site as their start point for a club run.

Do you need to assure your "Better Half" that she is just that ... The Better Half? Then why not surprise her with a semi-romantic assignation at a bijou winery in the Southern Highlands. AND support a great cause at the same time - CareFlight. Not only will you be creating harmony and scoring bonus points but also making a feel-good-moment.

To foster inter-Chapter fraternization, our original plans were changed to coincide with Illawarra’s “Anti-Freeze Weekend” in Jindabyne. The weather co-operated and 10 cars departed from our Hall rendezvous on time for Jugiong.

NatMeet XII at Launceston, Tasmania on 13-18 February 2016 attracted a record participation of 184 people and 106 MX-5s. Read on for the story of how 63 of our Club members ticked a few boxes on their bucket list.

After two days of wonderful MX-5 drives around the Launceston countryside, NatMeet lunches and dinners, it was time for the NSW members to have their own function and see the city lights of Launceston.

The theme for NatMeet XII was "It’s all about the Car", and for us MX-5ers ... Tasmania is all about the "Targa Tasmania Roads". And let me tell you right from the word GO ... we were not disappointed with plenty of Targa Roads to explore, before, during and after NatMeet.

Under threatening skies, the first day of NatMeet XII kicked off with a brisk top-down drive from Launceston Country Club through lively, twisting roads to the picturesque grounds of the Josef Chromy Winery - our venue for Concours d'Elegance, Show & Shine and a superb lunch.

The 2016 NatMeet in Launceston was a very special week of activities for everyone. However, at the top of my list was the track day at Baskerville, just north of Hobart. It is pure MX-5 heaven! Valentines Day was a perfect date to fall in love with this place after the straight-line blast at Symmons Plains the day before.

This was the first run for 2016, our annual Five Hills Run, on an overcast but warm day. Good conditions for the tops down on a cruise around Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin, going up and down five of the hills.

A donation cheque of $2715 was presented recently to CareFlight by Glenn Thomas (Vice President) and Bryan Shedden (President), on behalf of the MX-5 Club of NSW. Thank you to all members and sponsors who contributed to the various charity fundraising activities held throughout 2015, and made this generous donation possible.

On Wednesday night at a gala ceremony in Melbourne, and followed enthusiastically via social media, the Mazda MX-5 ND was declared as the 2016 Wheels Car of the Year. It is the third win for the popular sports car, with previous generations having won the prestigious award in 1989 and 2005.

To spring a surprise on our famously well-organised President is no mean feat and so the presentation of Bryan’s Honorary Life Membership at the Club’s 25th Anniversary celebration was planned in the deepest secrecy.

The latest arrival of the 2.0L version provided another opportunity for a launch event for MX-5 Club members and visitors. Sutherland Mazda hosted the event in their brand new showroom at Kirrawee. And I hear that at least a couple NDs were sold on the day!

In these days of disposable everything, it is rare that something can last for 25 years. Not only has the MX-5 Club of NSW survived for quarter of a century, it has thrived. So how best to mark this unique achievement?

A mammoth total of 147 MX-5s parked in the grounds of Ottimo House on Sunday 27 September 2015 for our 25th Anniversary Celebration. Not all of them entered the competition for the MX-5 Show but many did. Twelve trophies and eighteen Certificates of Merit were awarded to our members. A list of the results is now available.

50 of our members attended another great Nulon Tech Night on 16 July 2015. This being our second tech night with Nulon, this time they took us through gearbox and diff oils and their effect on the various MX-5 models.

Some considerable time ago I made a passing comment that the wines of the Riverina, particularly the irrigated vines of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA), had quite a bit of history behind them. This gave rise to a weekend run being scheduled for August 2015.

Our Business Directory gives club members the opportunity to promote their business, and you will benefit from the deals & discounts they offer. Ads will also be accepted from non-members on the condition that a discount or other benefit is offered to club members. Some offers on Automotive Products are already available to club members.

At last, it's here! The fourth generation Mazda MX-5 has been revealed for all to see. Updated 6 March 2015 with specification details from the Geneva Motor Show. Australian sales commence in late 2015.

I'm very pleased to announce that our Club now has a Technical Coordinator who will be responsible for a regular series of technical articles to feature in the Club Zone of our website and in Club Torque magazine.

The Club held its annual President’s Picnic at Lane Cove National Park on Sunday 14 September with 147 people registering and more turning up on the day. Results for the Concours d'Elegance and Bits & Bling are posted here.

On a beautiful sunny morning a group of 17 enthusiastic starters in 9 cars headed off in convoy up the Barton Highway past Yass, before branching onto Lachlan Valley Way north to Boorowa. The destination: a weekend trip to Parkes and Forbes.

The global reveal of the new generation MX-5 is happening this Thursday from 11am with simultaneous events in Japan, USA and Spain. Ben Sale has been sent by Mazda to cover the event in California on behalf of the MX-5 Clubs of Australia. Read on for his first message from the Melbourne departure lounge.

Our Club's celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Mazda MX-5 was an elaborate affair with a wide variety of options to get involved one way or another. The climax was at Tatlers Wines in Lovedale where 120 people in 70 MX-5s gathered for brunch.

Here at Club Torque, we have our ears to the ground as Mazda release the latest details on the new generation MX-5 ND on 4th September. Look out for the Winter Edition of Club Torque, in print from 8th September.

On a very crisp Canberra Sunday morning on the 27th of July, an intrepid band of 8 MX5ers met at 8am at McDonalds at Epic on Northbourne Avenue for our usual get together before setting off with tops down at 8:30 for Fountaindale at Robertson.

So it was 29 hardy souls who rocked up at Hall layby on Sunday morning. This was the start of a 150k round run to Bowning via Yass and Binalong but the weather was cold and the roads were wet and slippery.

Following an apparently successful Sun Run to Noosa last year, we planned a similar holiday run of four days via the roads less travelled for this autumn and timed to be a “positioning run” for Natmeet at Caloundra.

For those who came in late, NatMeet is the biannual national meeting of the MX-5 Clubs of Australia. The 2014 event was hosted by the MX-5 Club of Queensland at the Sunshine Coast. It was the 11th NatMeet and marked the 25th Anniversary of the Mazda MX-5. And we came home with the National Championship for our Club!

The drivers for the NatMeet Track Day awoke early on Monday morning to be greeted with heavy skies, drizzly rain and a BOM radar image that didn't look good. Not the best conditions for racing around Lakeside Park that's developed a name as one of the most dangerous tracks in Australia.

43 members and 5 guests attended the Canberra Chapter’s annual Presentation and Christmas Lunch in mid-December at Grazing Restaurant, Gundaroo. On a brilliant Canberra summer’s day, in what is fast becoming a club tradition, long-time member Paul Beerworth (dare I call him ‘Club Stalwart’?) led a convoy of members over the 50 km or so to Gundaroo in time for the festivities.

Commemorating the 25th anniversary of the debut of the Mazda MX-5, the website aims to deepen the bond between Mazda and its customers all over the world and express gratitude for the support the model has received over the years.

Our Club was presented with a 20 Year Milestone Recognition Award at the 2013 CAMS Motorsport Awards at Rydges Hotel, Bathurst. Mike Hicks was in for an even bigger surprise when he was awarded a highly prestigious CAMS Service Award.

Norm & Roz report on another successful weekend away with a spot of whale watching along the Eurobodalla and Bega Valley the coast. Some lovely MX-5 driving roads were sampled, and the company was great as usual, although the whales proved to be elusive!

It's been an agonising wait since the NC3 was launched at the Australian International Motor Show in October 2012, but photos have emerged overnight of a test mule for the next generation MX-5 being road tested in the USA.

66 members of the MX-5 Club of NSW met at Nulon's impressive plant at Moorebank for a night of education on oils. The Sydney, RPM, Illawarra and Hunter Chapters were all represented - thanks to all those who travelled a long way to support this excellent event.

Here's a link to an article I wrote some time ago on how to clean the soft top drains. It's not difficult after the first time you do it and is one of those general maintenance things that you should do on a regular basis.

The Canberra Chapter held its annual Christmas in July lunch at Benedict House, Queanbeyan, on Sunday 28 July 2013. The function was attended by 32 enthusiastic chapter members and friends, some from as far afield as Wagga Wagga, NSW.

On this crisp sunny morning 13 MX-5s (mostly topless) convened at Blamey Square, Russell Offices before firing up engines and cruising to Captains Flat, a former mining town 55 kilometres south/east from Canberra.

Sunday 19th May dawned cool but sunny – a perfect day for a cruise in the countryside! Assembling at Gunghalin College carpark, we took some new roads out of Canberra heading for Gundaroo and our coffee stop at Gunning, and then on to the Goulburn Waterworks museum.

18 happy people started with hot coffee and good conversation at the Gold Creek Café. Then, having cleared the cobwebs out of our eyes, we jumped in the shiny carriages and headed NE towards Lake George.

Each year, the ACT Council of ACT Motor Clubs arranges a show and shine day for its member clubs to raise money for a local charity. This year, the ‘Technical Aids for the Disabled, ACT’ group were the beneficiaries of the profits from the Shannons Wheels Exhibition.

So what does a paper hat, a picture of a Queen, an ice cream wrapper and a feather have in common? They were all ‘treasures’ that needed to be found on the Mystery Run that took 26 members and a guest on a 70 km run through the suburbs and surrounding countryside of Canberra on their way to an unknown BBQ site. Along the way, there were 20 questions that needed to be answered and an ‘artwork’ that needed to be completed.

The first Canberra Chapter run for 2013 was well supported, with 14 cars. Starting off at 6:00 pm in front of the Defence Russell Offices, the drivers’ briefing was short from Norm, with Bricet also giving a welcome on behalf of our convenors.